Fire Within

By Mary Robertson

This is the conclusion of Arrowhead in the Black Gumbo and Tales in Trees. Fire Within takes us on the last piece of Evey and Anthony's journey and leaves us feeling happy for where it takes them. In this last book in the three book series, they fight for their love and their family. Evey finds out that her dreams have

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rushmore Press LLC
• Release date: Nov 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781953223364

Mary Robertson

Mary is a young woman living in a small town in New Hampshire where she spends her time working with children and teens, and doting on her nieces and nephews. Mary loves to travel, and always bring home stories of her adventures so that the little ones in her life can dream of a bigger world.

Book preview

ISBN 978-1-953223-38-8 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-953223-36-4 (digital)

Copyright © 2020 by Mary Robertson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Rushmore Press LLC

1 800 460 9188

www.rushmorepress.com

Printed in the United States of America

Prologue

Evey, now wife to the chief of a long-lost Indian tribe in New Mexico, has just found out who murdered her best friend. She has the gifts of seeing, talking with trees, and now believes a fire burns within her. She will navigate life as a new mother to her best friend’s child and attempt to chase her dreams. She will soon learn that dreams change with one’s circumstance and life has a way of bringing the past into the future.

Chapter 1

Evey’s head bobbed back and forth against Anthony’s chest as he carried her home. She had passed out in his arms after discovering who murdered her pregnant best friend, Lola. Evey was dreaming of trees, women in flames, and a baby’s cry as she was lost in another world. She felt so helplessly exhausted and couldn’t quite remember why. Anthony grunted as he started up the hill to their home behind the trees. Evey picked her head up and slowly opened her eyes. Home, she said as she closed her eyes again and let her head fall back to Anthony’s shoulder.

Anthony made quick work of getting up the path. The light was on in the house. His grandmother, Belle, was babysitting for them. Evey and Anthony were raising Lola’s daughter after her murder. He knocked on the screen door with his foot and Belle quickly came to open the door.

What happened? Is she okay? Belle questioned in a flurry of worry.

I think so, Grandmother. I think it’s just exhaustion. She has had a long day of talking to trees and we confronted Lola’s mother. It was her. She shot Lola and Evey was angrier than I ever have seen her. She fought with her and Lola’s mother was going to lunge across a small fire to stab her with an herb knife. It all happened so fast. I was going to jump in front of Evey, but her eyes were burning from the inside out and she opened her palms up to the sky and the flames burst up as Evey opened her hands up. I’m not sure what happened. The cops seem to think that something just happened to go up right at the exact moment Lola’s mother jumped toward Evey, but I saw her eyes. They looked like they were on fire from the inside. I’m not sure. I just know I have to take care of her. I know she’s going to be afraid. And there’s one more thing. Before Evey passed out into my arms, she said, ‘The fire is within me and so is your child.’ I’ve just got to lay her down and care for her. I don’t know— Anthony trailed off worried.

The tall, handsome Indian looked over his wife. He wondered if his child was indeed in her belly. He gently put his hand on her stomach and prayed that all was okay. Evey was his world and he thought how fitting it is that she would be able to harness fire. Fires were considered to be a sacred gift from God. The reason fires were in the center of teepees and longhouses was that everyone could be around a small piece of God. She was sacred to him and a gift from God like the fire. He kissed her forehead. His grandmother watched him and wondered what was running through his mind. He was startled and he didn’t rattle easily. She went into the bathroom, got a washcloth, came back, and gently started wiping Evey’s face down. Her brow was contorted into a wrinkle as if she were upset in her dreams.

Daughter, you are dreaming. It’s okay to wake up now, child. Wake up, Belle said gently as she continued to rub her hair back with the rag.

Evey let out a moan and turned her head quickly. Then, her eyes fluttered open violently and her golden, brown eyes were ablaze. Belle was taken aback. They looked so beautiful and a little dangerous.

She spoke softly to her, Daughter, Evey, you are home now. Everything is okay. You are safe.

Evey closed her eyes slowly and swallowed. When she reopened her eyes, they were back to their normal, plain, golden brown color. She nodded at Belle and looked up to meet her handsome, worried husband’s dark brown eyes.

Anthony, what happened? Evey whispered, looking afraid to hear the answer.

I’m not entirely sure, Evey. The cops are saying it’s a lucky break that fire went up when it did and that no one else was hurt by Lola’s mother. She was coming at you with a knife. The cops seem to think that something combustible was in the fire that went up at the right moment and caught Lola’s mother up in the flames, Anthony said, not finishing before Evey interrupted him.

Is she dead? Evey closed her eyes remembering the scream she had heard as the woman went up in flames, as she had opened her hands up toward the sky.

No. Her husband pulled her out. She’s burnt badly, but she should live to be held accountable for Lola’s murder, Anthony explained.

Evey started to cry.

Why are you crying, daughter? Belle asked.

I could have killed her, Evey said.

No. It’s not your fault. She was going to hurt you, Belle tried to soothe her.

I don’t know how or why it happened, but I called those flames up. I didn’t think. I just saw her coming and an instinct took over me. I couldn’t let her hurt me or the— Evey trailed off, tears still flowing.

The baby? Anthony questioned.

Evey nodded.

Are you sure, daughter? Belle asked.

Yes. I just have a knowing tingle that I’m not alone and my instinct to protect is so strong that it came out in flames. Is something wrong with me? Has anyone ever done this? Evey asked looking frightened.

Anthony fell to his knees and kissed Evey so gently and let his hand fall to her stomach. My child is in there. You told me before you passed out. I love you and I’m glad you protected yourself and the baby no matter what the cost. He kissed her again and pulled her into a tight hug.

Evey sank into his embrace. Her world was right when she was in his arms, then a baby cried. Ana, Evey said jumping up to go get to her adopted daughter.

In Evey’s eyes, it didn’t matter that she wasn’t her blood. Ana was her daughter and she had made a promise to Lola. She chose the baby over her own life and she would choose Ana too. Evey went down the hall and grabbed the precious, tan, little baby with blonde hair and blue eyes. Ana quit crying immediately as she was cradled in Evey’s arms.

It’s okay. Mommy is here and so is someone else. You are going to have a best friend soon. I love you so much. I would do anything for you, Ana Danielle. Anything, Evey said as she kissed the blonde fuzz on her head.

Anthony watched from the hall as Evey sat down in the rocking chair with Ana. His heart was always full to bursting to see her with their daughter in the rocking chair he was rocked in as a baby. Tonight though, he was worried. Evey looked distant and very troubled. She was restless. There was a burning in her.

Chapter 2

Evey rocked Ana back to sleep with her trusty coyote, Tudley, at her feet. He sensed her unease and tried to comfort her. Tudley was her first baby and she had so many experiences with the wild dog who was now her friend.

We will be okay, Tudley, she said getting up and laying Ana back down in the crib Anthony had made for her.

She walked back to the living room to find Belle and Anthony deep in conversation. There’s no doubt it’s about her. Anthony looked up, got up, and came to wrap his arms around her.

I’m going to go take a shower, he told her and walked off toward the bathroom.

She looked over to Belle. Belle motioned for her to come sit on their tan couch by her. Evey did and Belle put her arm around her and pulled her to her side. Come here, granddaughter of my heart. We can sit here together in silence or you can talk to me if you feel like it. Either way, you are not alone, said Belle.

They sat quietly for a while and then Evey laid her head on Belle’s shoulder and whispered, Every time I close my eyes, I see her in the flames and I hear the scream. It was awful. Am I dangerous?

Belle pulled Evey to her even tighter. You are not dangerous, daughter. You were doing what any good mother would do, protecting your young inside you. All mothers can be dangerous if their children are threatened. We will learn more about this fire as we go. Analac did say more than once that you had more gifts than you know. Maybe this one only comes out when you are in danger, Belle said thinking as she went.

I didn’t sense the danger, so much as my anger. What if I unleash something terrible every time I get angry? I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt someone who didn’t deserve it, not saying that I should be the judge on who deserves what, said Evey looking scared.

You will learn to control it. We will go to a council meeting of our leaders soon and we can sit by the great fire and figure this out. I love you, daughter. You will be fine, Belle told her patting her shoulder.

It was Analac who helped me today. She visits me on the wings of the redheaded woodpecker. When I was struggling to talk to the trees, I asked her spirit to help me and then the woodpecker flew overhead and pecked on the tree who told me the truth. I miss her so much, Evey said.

I miss her too. It makes sense for the spirit to visit you on the wings of a woodpecker, Belle said smiling.

I completely passed out after whatever happened with the fire. It was like I let everything go from inside me and I couldn’t support myself anymore. Thank God, Anthony was there to catch me, Evey said thoughtfully.

I will always be there to catch you, Anthony said from the hallway.

She smiled up at him. He relaxed a little seeing his wife smile. He had made the right decision to leave her alone with Belle.

Belle was worried about her grandchildren, so she made a small dinner. She just made a quick stir fry. Evey didn’t eat much. She seemed so lost in her thoughts. Anthony grabbed her hand and put it to his chest and told her, Stay here with me at this moment. You need to eat.

She opened her hand and laid it flat against his chest to feel his heartbeat. Beat of my heart. Thank you for beating for both of us, all of us, earlier, she told him in their tongue and she ate.

A softness filled Anthony’s eyes and so much passed between the young married couple without another word being said.

After washing dishes, Belle left the little family. She was confident Evey and Anthony could fit the puzzle back together and find security in each other.

The phone rang. Belle answered it. Evey, it’s your grandma, she said.

Before Evey could answer, Grandma was talking. Evey, are you okay? I sensed danger to you. I know something happened. What was it? Grandma asked so quickly it made Evey’s head spin.

Grandma was gifted too. She just knew things and could sense things. She may not have known exactly what happened, but she knew something did and it was bad.

Evey responded, First, I’m okay. It was a bad day. I went out and talked to the trees like Analac showed me and the trees are so wise. They told me where to find Lola’s murderer. It was her mother. They had built a fire by a sacred spring. We confronted her and it got heated. Long story short, she was leaping across the small fire toward me and I unleashed the power of the fire toward the sky and she got burnt really badly.

I’m so glad you are okay, but what do you mean you unleashed the fire? Grandma asked.

I’m not sure. There’s a fire within me and I can’t explain it. I just know that I’m the one that made the fire burst. I don’t know— Evey trailed off.

And how are you feeling? Is the baby okay? Grandma questioned.

I’m just really tired and confused and Ana is fine. She was at home with Belle, Evey answered.

Not Ana. The child you’re pregnant with, Grandma said.

How did you . . . I haven’t told anyone. I just realized tonight, Evey said sputtering.

Grandma laughed. You know I just sense things. I felt our family was growing and can feel the pull toward you in my heart. I’ll try to get over there to visit soon. Give Anthony and Ana my love. Now, let me talk to Belle please.

Ana cried out from her crib. Tudley took off toward her room. He’s become quite the protector of our little one. Evey smiled toward the dog’s butt.

He’s a good boy for sure. You go change her diaper and I’ll make a bottle, Anthony said.

Hey, I think you get the good end of this deal, Evey said getting up laughing a little and following after Tudley.

She made it to the doorway and said, Hush now, Ana. I’m here. Let’s clean you up while Daddy fixes you a bottle.

Evey always smiled when she said daddy. She was hopelessly in love with her fierce, handsome, long-haired Indian. She made quick work of changing the diaper and then Anthony was walking in, warm bottle in hand. She handed Ana to him. He smiled at her and asked, Is my baby girl hungry?

He went and sat in the rocking chair and fed her. All of his hard features softened as he looked at the tiny girl in his muscular arms. Evey’s heart skipped a beat seeing him care for their daughter and she wondered how she would feel about him after making it through pregnancy with him. She walked over to the rocking chair, stood behind them, and started to rub his shoulders. They were broad and strong. He sighed and let his head fall back onto the chair and he looked up and smiled at her. She returned the smile and left to go shower.

Ana finished her bottle and Anthony burped her. He stood with her to sing to her. He always sang to her in his deep voice a song of his people and he would sway with her. When Evey got out of the shower, she went to him and put her arms around his waist, and swayed with him. They were happy at that moment, cradling the little life between them and dancing in the dark. Ana fell fast asleep. She really was a good baby even if she did get up three times a night to eat. She was happy despite her hard start. Anthony gently laid their daughter down in the crib and put his arm around Evey. They stood there linked together for a long time just watching Ana sleep.

They made their way to their room and Anthony pulled the covers back for Evey, but before he could move to his side, she was pulling him down on top of her.

Evey, you’ve had a long day and I don’t want to— she cut him off with a kiss.

She left no question as to what she wanted with that kiss and it wasn’t sleep. Anthony chuckled and kissed her passionately as he slid his hand down past her belly button to the top of her lacey panties. He parted her with his hands and she arched up to greet him and he smiled on her mouth. His hands were like magic and he had her shaking all over in no time.

Then, she was working on him with her hands and told him, Let me have you now. Please.

He loved to hear her ask for him and he couldn’t deny her all of him. He rolled in place and with a swift motion, was inside her and they danced in the way of lovers until they were both trembling and exhausted.

Evey laid in bed looking up at the ceiling and Anthony watched her. What are you thinking about, Evey? he asked.

This fire thing has me freaked out, Anthony. I just need to know what it is and why I have it, she said.

You are the same person as you were yesterday, love. You are just more gifted than we knew. You are the love of my life and it would only make sense that the fire of my soul would be full of fire, he said kissing her in reassurance.

Chapter 3

Okay, Mrs. Contararo. That’s all we need for your statement. It’s pretty cut and dry. We saw it happen. We are just crossing our t’s and dotting our i’s, the police detective told Evey after retelling the events from the evening before. She did leave out the talking to trees and fiery eyes part though. Evey shook his hand and left with Anthony. They had a stop to make before they headed home.

Anthony pulled into